Pound or piece cutting machine



F. B. KEOGH AApril 26, 1932.

POUND OR PIECE CUTTING MACHINE Filed 0G13. 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Shee.

INVENTOR April 26, 1932. F. B. KEoGH POUND OR PIECE CUTTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 29, 1929 2 SheetS-Sheei 2 INVENTOR Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES FRANKLIN B. KEOGH, F PEEKSKILL, NEW 'YORK PoUND'oR PIECE CUTTING MACHINEl Application led October 29, 1929. Serial No. 403,342.

One object of my invention is to provide a machine for cutting a continuous bar of yeast, or other materials of like consistency which should and must be cut by a wire, into pounds or pieces the length of which may continually change or may be fixed; the apparatus being adapted to operate automatically by use of friction exerted on it by the fed product.

Other objects ofthe invention are to provide a machine of the character indicated with novel means for adjusting to the proper cutting angle, and also to change the length of the out pound or piece while the machine i iSoperating, furthermoreto provide that the cutting agent (a wire) will not mark or mutilate either surface after the cut has been made.

These aims and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter set forth, reference be- Y ing made to the two accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is Lan end view of frame for holding the cutting wire, and the arms in which frame travels.`

' Fig. 2 is a segment of the contact roller.

F ig.V 3 is a side elevation of the rotating part, also showing forming nozzle from which product exudes. y

Figs. 4 and 5 and 6 are diagrammatic.

Fig. 7 is a section showing method of 'holding and tightening the wire.

Fig. 8 is a front view of the assembled machine, partially in section.

Fig. 9 is a side view showing supports.

In the above mentioned drawings 11 represents a forming nozzle from which is forced a continuous length of yeast, or other material, by means of pressure from the rearward. On account of such pressure by the time product emerges from nozzle 11 it is a practically homogeneous body, relativelyV stiff, and rectangular in cross section. Placed 1n front of nozzle 1s a horizontal plate 12, the top surface of which coincides with bottom line of product and serves as a table on which said product may slide. Operation is as follows. When product is forced from nozzle 11, slides along on stationary plate 12, ftouches contact roller or pulley 14 and by friction starts spiders or sets of arms l not be damaged by the advancing wire. It Y will be noted that the speed of the cutting Wire is now faster than speed of the product and therefore will clear and not injure face of cake to be out. i

After the frame 17 has performed its cutting` function theicontinuing revolution of the spiders or sets of arms carries part 17 to a point where it is caughtup by the cam 18 and graduallyreturned to a position ready to fall again.

In Figure 8 the frame 17 is shown inits lowest position having just fallen. An adjustable stop is provided at this point by means of the screw 24, so that wire 19 will not touch plate l2, also part 17 must not bang against roller or. pulley 14. Figure 9 illustrates supports 21, cap for same 26, compression spring 27 and bearings 25 for shaft 16.V Figure 9 also shows an adjusting screw 22, which raises or lowers the revolving parts so as to get the right amount of contactto properly drive same. Figure 9 also shows cam 18 and arm 20which are both keyed to shaft 16. By means of the screw 29, the cam 18 is adjusted to such a position thatthe cuts will be at anl angle of degrees to the flow of the product, meaning with squareends.

After this has been made right for a `normal speed then set-screw 28 is tightened. Figure 7 is a detail of the method used to hold and tighten the cutting wire. Hook 30 has a squared end which is held by the square inV Y frame'l. Y Threaded sleeve 31 is turned by means of screw driver slot and Wire made taut, the rubber washer 32 acting as a cushion.

Since length of piece to be cut .and shape in cross section are predetermined by` manufacturers Vstandards the drawings cannot give the exact sizes of parts. Also because mate-` rials vary in density they offer a different resistance to the outtingwire, and as the cut is accomplished by the gravity fall of the frame, this frame must be of suitable weight i so wire will cut through product when frame falls from a certain height.

In designing the cutting machine to operate as shown in Figure 3 it must be remembered that segment 36, pl-us slot, is the exact length o-f one calze. Then` determine the necessary weight of frame 17 and the height of fall to cut through `the product. lVhen proper clearances are allowed the length of sets of arms 15 can bey decided on and the diameter of Contact roller 14.

This contact roller 14 is cast as a pulley, turned and faced, arms and hub cut out,

.fand after being'securely vbolted to sets of y saine principles are shown in Figures 4, 5, and

6.5 Theseare for use where the density of Athe product is changeable but an exact weight is required `and therefore .a continual Vadjustment made necessary to change the length of .the lcut calze; This change of length is `accomplished by turning the screw 22. Raising the Vshaftv 16 and revolving parts increases length of calze. Lowering it decreases length of cake; Furthermore `the segment 36 would now be in the way and since, as is shown in :Figure 3, it also acted as .a brace to tie the sets ofarms 15 together,l therefore'` in adopting schemes such asrshownin Figures. 4, 5, and 6',.tie rods 3? must besupplied and located in the same position. Such tie rods must of course kclear the cam 18 which is `always stationary. Also shoe piece 33 must be provided lto keep frames 17 from falling out. In all eases power is taken from the product vleaving nozzle, howevery contact rollersV are now locatedzas at 14a or 14?) orl 14C', must be adjustable to get the right amount of friction to drive, and sets of arms maybe driven from same 'by chain or gears or belt.

j Note that the shaft which holds'the rotati ing sets of arms isAV adjustable vertically so that when using contactv roller or pulley 14 the right amount of friction to drive 'can lbe obtained; and lso that when using `contact rollers 1'4ctor '145 'or 140 the length of the cutpieces may be changed. The two rotating revolution immediately following the cut ink order that cutting wire will touchl neither the bar nor the severed piece. The periphery of the eccentric cam 18 is so designed as to return the frames 17 gradually after same have fallen. Also provision 'is made to adjust cam in a rotary direction for the purpose of assuring square ends on the out pieces.

Caremust be taken inapplying the required pressure to drive the apparatus that: the productis not bulged or cracked. If a smooth or finished face on the contact roller or pulley Vwill not produce sufficient friction to drive, then such roller or pulley may have grooves (of suitable depth) cut across the face. The same result may be obtained` by having raised letters on the face .of roller giving thename of the product, or the weight of the cake, or a trade mark. *This embossing would act as a driving force.

Now having described my invention and how it operates, what l` claim .and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

In a machine of the character set forth the combination of; a pulley driven by contact ofthe material extruded which drives -two sets of arms rotatably mounted on ya shaft vertically adjustable while the machine is in operation, said sets of arms having radial slots which guide lslidable frames carrying cutting wires so that the wires will .not damage the oncoming bar after the Vcut has :been made, said frames being of such correct weight that the taut wire on same` will part off the product when frames are allowedto fall by` gravity Vfrom a pre-determined height, and an eccentric cam also on the shaft and toward the cen-ter ofY the supporting l shaft after the cut has been madel and "allow the frames to drop off ofit just before the cut is made; the entire unit to function substan.-

tially as stated above and for the purpose set forth@ In testimony whereofal have signed my name to this specification.

'FRANKLIN B. KEOGH.` y

sets "of armslt') are' designed with radial slots Y or'ways so as-'to guide the vertical movement of frames when product is being cut; and also to hold frames at their greatest distance from the vcentero'fY shaft for the one quarter 

